Student Senate supports revision of Student Code of Conduct

Student Senate passed a resolution Wednesday that would support the revision of the Student Code of Conduct, a document last revised in 2004.Resolution 1213-42 advocates for revision of certain parts of the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct, including recommendations to create uniform script for all procedural interviews that students alleged to be in violation face and to create a standard for how quickly cases are handled. Molly Nocheck, Director of Students Defending Students, presented the proposed changes in the resolution, with an emphasis on transparency in the judicial process.“I suggest that in PIs [procedural interviews] that they would have a similar script so that students understand exactly what’s happening when. That would create consistency and lead to less appeals for procedural interviews,” Nocheck said.The resolution also addresses the appeal process for violations of the code of conduct. Currently, students in violation only have the ability to submit a paper appeal regarding the incidents. The resolution advocates for an in-person appeal process that would allow students to answer questions about their appeal.“The students have no engagement beyond giving their letter to the office of community standards….The student is basically torn off the process and I think that this creates a less educationally-based process,” Nocheck said.The resolution, which included provisions such as “The phrasing of the code of conduct is outdated and inaccessible to students,” and “There is a lack of consistency in time or procedure for students who are referred to community standards,” was passed unanimously by Senate. The resolution stated that the goal of the student judicial process should be an “educational outcome.Also in Wednesday’s senate meeting was a presentation from Ian Dryberg, a representative from USA Today. Dryberg is the manager of the Bobcat Readership Program at Ohio University, a program that provides free newspapers at locations all around campus. Dryberg said that the program has been successful since its implementation beginning this past fall.  As of now, the program offers students three papers, distributed each weekday. So far this year, students picked up 93,540 newspapers, averaging 76 copies of the Columbus Dispatch, 321 copies of New York Times and 321 copies of the USA Today daily.Dryberg stressed that which papers and how many of each paper the student body wanted was entirely up to Senate. The program will cost senate $59,887 for this academic year , the single charge being for papers picked up.Also presenting was Michael Lachman, Transportation Services Manager from Athens Transit. Lachman outlined proposed changes to Athens’ city bus system, including route changes and a switch from a hail system to a stop system.He discussed such potential changes as increasing frequency, allowing greater campus access for student looking to quickly be transported to the south Richland Avenue or East State Street areas. Included in the change is the creation of a central bus hub outside Baker University Center near Park Place, where a permanent bus stop would replace metered parking on West Mulberry Street behind Bentley Hall. Lachman said this would allow students better access to other bussing systems like The Summit or University Commons buses.